Baked Feta Bouyourdi with Tomato

There are dishes that tell a land more than a thousand words, recipes born from the meeting of simple ingredients and a way of cooking rooted in history. Bouyourdi belongs to this category: a typical Greek appetizer, capable of captivating with its immediacy and with that intense aroma that fills the air as soon as the baking dish comes out of the oven. It’s a dish that speaks of taverns overlooking the sea, of summer evenings spent outdoors, of genuine conviviality and flavors that need no artifice to be remembered.
Bouyourdi surprises with its simplicity: a few ingredients, all Mediterranean, that transform into something irresistible. Feta, the undisputed star of Greek cuisine, is slowly cooked in a thick, aromatic tomato sauce, enriched with spices like oregano and chili pepper. The result is a perfect balance between saltiness, sweetness, and a hint of spice that awakens the palate without overpowering it. It’s a dish to be savored with a spoon, scooping up every part of the sauce, or with good pita bread, soft and warm, which becomes the ideal companion to enjoy every nuance.
What makes bouyourdi so special is its ability to be both rustic and refined. It’s an appetizer that prepares in minutes but brings a strong character to the table, almost “important,” as if to remind those who taste it that Mediterranean cuisine doesn’t need complications to be extraordinary. The quality of the ingredients, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, and the right cooking are enough to create a dish that smells of home and travel at the same time.
Bouyourdi is also an extremely versatile recipe: it can be served as an appetizer, a light main dish, or a side for an informal dinner with friends. It’s perfect in colder seasons, when the warmth of the oven and the aroma of tomato create a cozy atmosphere, but it is equally pleasant in summer, when something flavorful but not too heavy is desired. Its “shareable” nature makes it ideal for starting a meal, for accompanying an aperitif, or for enriching a Mediterranean-style table.
Rediscovering bouyourdi means bringing a piece of Greece into your kitchen, with its intense flavors and culinary tradition made of genuine ingredients and simple gestures. It’s a recipe that invites you to slow down, enjoy the moment, and be enveloped by a taste that speaks of sun, sea, and conviviality. A dish that captivates at first taste and deserves to be prepared and shared, just as it happens in the Greek taverns where it was born.

Do you love ethnic recipes but don’t have time to travel the world? In the meantime, here are some tasty dishes, there’s always time to book the flight.

baked feta bouyourdi with tomato
  • Difficulty: Very easy
  • Cost: Economical
  • Preparation time: 10 Minutes
  • Portions: 4 people
  • Cooking methods: Oven
  • Cuisine: Greek
  • Seasonality: All seasons

Ingredients for baked feta bouyourdi with tomato

  • 10.5 oz feta
  • 1 cup canned tomatoes
  • to taste oregano
  • to taste thyme
  • to taste fresh chili pepper
  • to taste extra virgin olive oil

Tools

  • Baking dish

Preparation of baked feta bouyourdi with tomato

  • Preheat the oven to 392 °F.

  • Divide the crushed canned tomatoes into four individual baking dishes. Place a block of feta in the center. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, a little thyme, and oregano, and, if you like, a bit of fresh chili pepper sliced into rings. Do not salt the dish, as feta is already very salty.

  • Bake the dishes in the oven for about 20-25 minutes, until the feta is lightly golden and the sauce has reduced.

    Serve immediately hot, accompanied by pita bread or croutons.

    I like to break the feta with a fork before serving at the table, making it even more flavorful.

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Ferri Micaela

Chemist by profession and food lover by vocation. Between test tubes and reports, I enjoy sharing stories about my region through my blog and social media. I am passionate about cooking in all its forms: I particularly love Far Eastern cuisine, but I always keep a piece of my heart connected to my homeland.

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